Convertible chair



No. 483,810. Patented Oct. 4, 1892.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

vJ. A. NESMITH. CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

Patented Oct. 4, 1892.

zqz'irasses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC JOSEPH ADDISON NESMITH, OF PAXSON, VIRGINIA.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,810, dated October 4:, 1892.

Application filed April 25, 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OSEPH Anmson Nas- MITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paxson, in the county of Loudoun and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement is directed to provision whereby a folding chair may be used as a chair proper or converted into a desk, a table, or a reclining-chair. This provision for adapting the chair for the various uses stated consists of a detachable frame part constructed to engage and be supported upon the chair parts proper, so as to form a back to the chairseat when the chair is used as a desk to form a table extension of the desk part and to form a reclining-chair extension of the seat, and to be hung upon the back of the chair proper when not required for the purposes of 0011- verting the chair, as stated, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and in connection with which I will designate my said improvements in the claims concluding this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the chair in vertical section with the convertible frame part hung upon the back of the chair when not used as a means of converting the chair, as stated. Fig. 2 shows the chair in vertical section when adjusted for use asa desk. Fig. 3 shows the chair in vertical section when adjusted for use as a table, and Fig. 4 shows the chair in vertical section when adjusted for use as a reclining-chair, and Fig. 5 shows the detachable frame whereby in its several adj ustments the chairis made convertible, as stated. Fig. 6 is a top view of the desk part. Fig. 7 is a partial top View of the table-forming parts, and Fig. 8 is a part of the seat.

Referring to the drawings, the chair-frame proper is seen as being formed by an oblong frame of side bars 1, connected by cross-bars 2, and of sufficient length to form the back and the front legs, and a shorter frame of side bars 3, connected by cross-bars 4, and pivoted to the front legs to form the seat-support, while the seat-frame is formed by bars 5, connected by braces 6, and pivoted to the back frame above the pivotal connection of the legs. The back-frame has a pivoted section 7 above the seat,which may be adjusted $erial No, 430,529. (No model.)

for use as adesk, for a section of a table, and as a support for the back of the occupant, as I shall presently state. IVhen not adjusted in either of the positions stated, this pivoted back-section hangs free with its lower end resting upon a cross-bar 2 of the back-frame and forms a section of the back, which backsection I prefer to make of what is known as perforated seating. The fixed top section 8 of the back has a suitable head-rest 9. The pivoted section is formed of side bars 10, connected by cross-braces 11, which are provided with buttons 12 on their under sides, adapted to be turned out to support the pivoted section on the back bars when such section is used in the several positions stated. (See Figs. 2, 6, and '7.)

The upper ends of the seat-supporting bars are forked or otherwise formed to engage the cross-braces 6 of the seat-frame to support the latter to give the chair-back a greater or less inclination for use as a chair proper or as a desk or for converting the chair into a table. The chair thus constructed is adapted to be folded.

As a means for converting the chair into a table or into a reclining-chair or into a deskchairwith a back, I provide adetachable frame formed of side bars 13, connected by crossbraces 14, to which perforated backing is secured, so as to leave the side bars disconnected for about half their length at one end of the frame, as in Fig. 5. At this open end of the frame the side bars are formed with notches 15 at one edge of each, and at these notched edges the bars 13 are provided near their ends with buttons 16, while at their other ends these bars are provided with pivoted bars 17, forked at their free ends.

In Fig. 2 the chair is shown as adjustedfor use as a desk, in which the detachable frame is shown in position to form a back to the chair-seat, while the desk is formed by the pivoted backsection of the chair -frame proper. In this position of the detachable frame it is engaged by its notches 15 with the projecting ends 18 (see Fig. 8) of the front cross brace 6 of the seat-frame, so that the said detachable frame rests upon the front leg of the chair-back frame proper and is held by its notches against the ends of the seat brace, so that it cannot fall back.

In Fig. 8 the chair is shown as adjusted for use as a table, in which the detachable frame is shown in position as an extension of the pivoted back or desk-forming section. In this position the ends of the side bars of this frame are placed against the outer sides of the bars of the desk-forming section and are supported by resting upon the buttons 19,

Fig. 7, of said desk-bars, while the buttons 16, I near the ends of this detachable frame, are turned to engage the under sides of the said desk-bars, and thereby support the detachable frame with its perforated backing on a plane with and as an extension of the desk- P The outer end of the detachable 1 the other end of this frame may rest upon the floor or be supported by the pivoted bars 17. In this position the pivoted back-section is raised and supported by its buttons on the side bars of the chair-back proper, so as to form a support for the back of the occupant. 1

When it is not desired to use the detachable frame, Iprovide for supporting it at the back of the chair by means of hooks 20 at or near the middle of its leng-th-,-adapted to engage eyes 21 on the rear side of the back- 1 frame of the chair proper, as shown in Fig. 1.

In adjusting the detachable frame in the 1 way stated no fastening devices are used,'= while its connection and support are made sef cure when used in their various positions.

The buttons are secured by nuts and bolts.

may be permitted from the general arrangement and construction of parts contributing toward my invention, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself thereto in precise detail and construe, tion.

I claim as my improvement 1. In a convertible chair, the combination,

In this position the with a back-frame and a seat-frame, of a pivoted back-section adapted for adjustment as a desk, and a detachable frame hung upon the seat-frame, whereby to form a seat-back when the chair is used with the desk-back part, substantially as described.

2. In a convertible chair, the back-frame 1, having apivoted section 7, provided with the button 12, a pivoted seat-section 5, having its front cross-bar 6 projecting at each side 18, and the rear legs 3, pivoted to said backframe and adapted to engage said seat cross bar, in combination with the frame 13, having a backing, and the notches 15, adapted for engagement with said seat cross-bar ends 18, as shown and described.

3. In a convertible chair, the back-frame 1, having the pivoted section 7, provided with the buttons 12 and 19, a pivoted seat-section 5, having its front cross-bar 6 projecting at each side 18, and the rear legs 3, pivoted to said back-frame and adapted to engage said seat c-rossba-r, in combination with a separate frame 13, having a backing, the notches 15, the buttons 16, and the pivoted bars 17, bifurcated at their free ends and adapted for engagement with said cross-bar ends, as described.

4:. In a convertible chair, the combination of a back frame having a pivoted back-sec tion provided with a pair of buttons on the under side of each side bar, a seat-frame having its front cross-brace projecting at each side, and a detachable frame having notches at one end in the side bars thereof, a button for each notched bar, and pivoted bars at the other end of said frame, whereby the latter may be applied to the chair in the several ways and for the purposes stated.

5. The combination, in aconvertible'chair,

of a back-frame having a pivot-ed back-sec- When used as a chair proper, the seat is supported by the'engagement-of its cross-bar 22 with the rear legs but when the chair is converted into a desk, a table, or a recliningchair the seat is supported by the engagement of its front cross-bar 6 with the rear legs.

tion provided with a pair of buttons on the under side of each side bar, a seat-frame, and a detachable frame having its side bars disconnected at one end and provided each with a button on its under side, its other end having pivoted bars, whereby the said detachable frame is connected with and sup- It is evident that immaterial departuresi ported upon the pivoted back-section and the seat-frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed this specification in the presence of witnesses.

JOSEPH ADDISON NESMITH. Witnesses:

E. F. JAMES, O. BALDWIN. 

